Introduced with the Water (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2007 the bill: establishes the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and requires the Authority to prepare the Basin Plan; establishes the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder; requires the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to monitor and enforce water charge and market rules in the Basin; and provides the Bureau of Meteorology with additional functions relating to information on water resources and the annual publication of the National Water Account.

Gives effect to the intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform between New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory by amending the

Water Act 2007

to: transfer the powers and functions of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority; expand the Basin Plan to include arrangements for critical human water needs for communities dependent on the River Murray System; extend the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s role in relation to water market rules and water charge rules; provide for the appointment of the Chair to the Basin Officials Committee; effect a revised Agreement which establishes a Ministerial Council and Basin Officials Committee; and make transitional amendments. Also makes consequential and technical amendments to the

Further to the Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012, the bill amends the

Water Act 2007

to: establish the Water for the Environment Special Account for a 10-year period from the 2014-15 financial year to acquire additional environmental water entitlement and to remove constraints on the efficient use of environmental water for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan; and provide for independent reviews to be conducted in 2019 and 2021.

to: enable the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to make adjustments to the long-term average sustainable diversion limit set by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan; and require the basin plan requirements for accreditation of water resource plans to include a requirement that water resource plans include a mechanism for incorporating and adjusting a relevant change in the limit for that water resource plan area.

to provide funds for vocational education and training in 2005 under the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) agreement; and update the current funding limits for 2004 to reflect the outcome of earlier negotiations with the States and Territories.

to: supplement 2003 funding; appropriate general vocational education and training funding for 2004; provide additional growth funding in 2004 for those State and Territories that satisfy the provisions set out in the Australian National Training Authority Agreement for 2004-2006; and provide further funding under the “Australians Working Together” and “Recognising and Improving the Capacity of People with a Disability” programs.

to: supplement 2002 funding; appropriate general vocational education and training funding for 2003; and provide additional growth funding in 2003 for those State and Territories that satisfy the provisions set out in the Australian National Training Authority Agreement for 2001-2003.